Travelweek - July 7th, 2022

Frustration with airline cancellations soars to new heights as disruptions come at a crucial time for travel’s recovery

By Kathryn Folliott

TORONTO — It’s beyond galling to think of how many more clients might have travelled this summer if it weren’t for the delays and congestion at airports and passport offices.

Right now though many travel advisors are too busy helping their clients navigate the latest round of flight cancellations to dwell on the lost business.

The first official long weekend of summer, and the start of high season for the travel industry, started with Air Canada’s announcement that it was cutting back its schedule by more than 150 flights per day, or about 9,500 flights in total, this month and next.

Higher-than-normal flight cancellation levels have been plaguing airlines since the pandemic upended the industry, and especially since travel got going again this spring.

Airlines had long told the government ‘we can’t restart on a dime’ but that’s essentially what they ended up having to do. Travel’s restart - much welcome and desperately needed after two pandemic years - began in February 2022 after the travel advisory dropped to Level 2, and just weeks later, things really started to take off with the elimination of the pre-arrival COVID test requirement. Thousands of workers were recalled but staffing shortages were a problem for every industry, not just travel, and meanwhile the bookings were pouring in.

For months the blame-game has gone around and around. Airlines have called out the federal government for congestion at the airports, especially at Pearson, and specifically the slow-moving CATSA security lines for departing passengers, and the bogged down arrivals procedures with random COVID testing and ArriveCAN.

The government has accepted its

share of the blame and urged airlines to do the same, saying the airline industry is using the government as a scapegoat where the bigger problem is flight cancellations.

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech has said that WestJet made proactive schedule reductions for March - May 2022, and that specifically for Pearson operations, the airline is operating 32% fewer flights through Pearson in July 2022 than before the pandemic. However that coincides with WestJet’s already-announced plan to focus its efforts in the West, part of a strategy to capitalize on WestJet’s strength as Western Canada’s ‘home-team carrier’.

Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau, in the wake of the July and August cancellations, apologized for Air Canada’s cancellations, saying the reductions were not an easy decision. Passengers with cancelled flights have been notified.

The surge in travel “has created unprecedented and unforeseen strains on all aspects of the global aviation system,” says Rousseau last week. “Around the world, there are recurring incidents of flight delays and airport congestion, resulting from a complex

array of persistent factors impacting airlines and our partners in the aviation ecosystem. Similar effects are being seen in other industries too, where companies and suppliers are struggling to restart, unclog supply chains and meet pent-up demand.”

“At Air Canada, we anticipated many of these factors and began taking tangible action during the depth of the pandemic to be ready for a rapid restart. Yet, despite detailed and careful planning, the largest and fastest scale of hiring in our history, as well as investments in aircraft and equipment, it is now clear that Air Canada’s operations too have been disrupted by the industry’s complex and unavoidable challenges. The result has been flight cancellations and customer service shortfalls on our part that we would never have intended for our customers or for our employees, and for which we sincerely apologize,” he said.

“MORE UNPAID WORK”

For travel advisors, the reasons behind the flight cancellations are less important than the work they now face helping some clients adjust their travel plans.

Niche Travel Group’s Faith Sproule says her biggest issue so far has been WestJet cancelling some direct flights from Halifax. “We just had clients have to backtrack to Calgary with WestJet for their trip to Paris with one day's notice,” she says. “What had been a sixhour direct flight turned into 16 hours and travel in the wrong direction first.”

Frustrating? Yes, but c'est la vie, says Sproule, adding that her clients “are having a ball in Paris and had a great attitude, and a great agent who was with them every step of the way.”

All the media coverage of the airport delays and flight cancellations means many people fear booking any vacation right now, she says, adding that there’s a fine line between keeping the public informed about the delays, and inciting panic.

She adds that her agency is letting clients know to expect longer than normal wait times in customs, and her agents are booking flights that allow for 2.5 - 4 hour connection time if they don't have Nexus.

For Robert Townshend, owner of Toronto-based Total Advantage Travel & Tours, flight cancellations during travel’s restart have been the cause of anxiety, unneeded stress, sleepless nights and angry clients.

Townshend had a group of 100 travelling to Edmonton for a wedding with Air Canada Groups. The travel dates were July 8-10, but then Townshend received an automated schedule change notice at the beginning of June, saying that the group’s return was cancelled and there was no alternative flight to offer them.

On June 5, Townshend was told that 50 members of the group could

get on an earlier flight, with the rest spread out through the day. With next to no other options, the next day, on June 6, Townshend accepted the offer to accommodate 50 of them on the one flight. That’s when things got worse. “The group agent acknowledged it but didn’t follow through and confi rm my 50 seats. Then when I attempted to send in my 50 names for that flight, I got a response that they never confirmed it with revenue management and they don’t have those 50 seats anymore.”

Townshend’s frustration is matched only by that of his group. “Now my groups is split up. I’ve lost some of them because they have blamed me for this and they have booked their own flights with WestJet or Flair.”

Other travel agents are waiting to see if any of their client files are impacted by cancellations.

Cambridge, ON-based travel advisor Caitlin Lajeunesse, part of the Independent by Flight Centre network, points to all the work many travel agents have done over the past two years, booking and rebooking clients again and again. “If their flights are impacted by the cancellations, my clients will be very disappointed!” says Lajeunesse. "These are trips that have been cancelled and re-booked twice now. We were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The government and airlines are playing the blame game, says Lajeunesse, “when ultimately, they need to start working together and moving forward. People are ready to travel, planes are full, bookings are being made daily and now it's time to move forward with staffing and logistics.”

The bottom line? “These cancellations will mean more (unpaid) work for advisors and will upset travellers,” says Lajeunesse.

ACITA co-founder announces she’s stepping down

TORONTO — Judith Coates, one of the three co-founders of ACITA (Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors) has announced she’s stepping down from her leadership role to focus on serving her clients and growing her business.

ACITA was a direct product of the pandemic and the brainchild of Coates together with co-founders and fellow travel advisors Brenda Slater and Nancy Wilson.

ACITA marked its two-year anniversary on June 28, 2022.

“We have a lot to be proud of, and have come really far as a grassroots organization,” says Coates.

“We have seen significant wins over the past two years, and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many Independent Travel Advisors who supported us by attending zoom meetings, helping out with email campaigns and working tirelessly to keep the flame going,” she added.

In the chaotic first months of the pandemic, in June 2020 ACITA began mobilizing independent travel advisors to secure meetings with their elected officials and went on to facilitate 350+ meetings over Zoom, and continued to put pressure on federal cabinet ministers to provide commission protection and financial aid to independent travel advisors.

Coates says she’s staying in the travel industry, and will focus her energies and time on serving her clients and growing her business, still with TTAND but newly branded as Wired for Travel.

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“We’re going to take this brand to the moon”: Sandals Resorts Int’l Executive Chairman Adam Stewart

SANTA BARBARA, CURACAO —

The grand opening of Sandals Royal Curacao is just the start of what the legendary hospitality brand is calling ‘Sandals 2.0’, as it looks to revolutionize its Luxury Included experience across the Caribbean.

“We’re asking you all to put your seatbelts on, because the next 5 to 10 years is going to be insane,” says Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International.

Hosting the festivities recently at Sandals Royal Curacao, Stewart took the opportunity to share the Sandals vision with industry insiders from the Caribbean, Canada, the U.S., the UK and Europe, all in attendance for this latest gala opening.

There will be many more grand openings to come, with Sandals Dunn’s River back under Sandals ownership, plus more new properties in Jamaica, along with a new resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“As we were building on this vision for the future, this vision that we’re calling Sandals 2.0, we said, we’re going to take this brand to the moon,” said Stewart.

“Every single element of hospitality is going to be reviewed. Starting with the locations, the designs, the innovations, the services, doing things that have never quite been done in hospitality before.”

STAR TREATMENT FOR SANDALS ROYAL CURACAO

First things first: Sandals Royal Curacao got the star treatment with a gala opening event.

It’s the 16th property for Sandals Resorts, and its first on the island of

Curaçao. Among the resort’s many highlights, Sandals Royal Curaçao offers two new signature suites, the Awa Seaside Bungalows and Kurason Island Suites. Both categories include the complimentary use of a sporty and stylish convertible MINI Cooper for guests to drive while exploring the island.

The resort is also home to Sandals’ first Dos Awa two-level infinity pool featuring views overlooking the sea and mountain landscape.

After the high-wattage gala on June 24, Stewart took a moment to talk shop while enjoying the stunning daytime views from the brand’s newest property. “Our purpose is to share the four corners of the Caribbean with the world,” he said. “And I can tell you, I get the honour of running around the Caribbean all day long, flying on planes and seeing what’s the best. And as you’re sitting here, as you look out here, that is about as damn good as it gets anywhere on the planet.”

Sandals Royal Curacao, with its two marinas, 351 rooms and suites and more, sits on 44 acres of a 3,000 acre

estate. For Stewart and the team, it was love at first site, and the acquisition was made. “We saw something that we loved,” says Stewart.

“A DETERMINATION TO OUTPERFORM”

Sandals Resorts owns the largest land mass of Caribbean real estate of any company, adds Stewart. “And it is the best of the best.”

That goes for the Sandals Resorts team as well. Core to the brand’s success are its people. Says Stewart: "A team of over 15,000, moving to over 18,000 next year, that have been there step by step, that lead everything and who we are. And at the centre of that, is a determination to out-perform and out-innovate anybody else.”

Sandals Resorts’ connection to the Caribbean goes all the way back to the early 1980s and company founder and industry visionary Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

As his son notes in an interview in the special Sandals Resorts 40th Anniversary issue, produced last month

JEFF CLARKE, CEO, UNIQUE VACATIONS; MAUREEN BARNES-SMITH, VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING, UNIQUE VACATIONS CANADA INC; ADAM STEWART, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL; GEBHARD RAINER, CEO, SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

in partnership with Travelweek, “what started with a big dream and one resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1981, has transformed into a beloved household name around the world. … My dad didn’t believe in the word ‘impossible’. He was the extraordinary combination of a dreamer and a doer.”

Sandals Resorts’ deep Caribbean roots are part of the company’s DNA. As Stewart put it this past weekend: “We are quintessentially from and of the Caribbean, as a brand.”

Never a company to rest on its laurels, one of the latest innovations from Sandals Resorts underlines its strong connection - and commitment - to support its Caribbean partners.

It’s called ‘Island Inclusive,’ and its the brand’s first-ever off-site dining program, and now available at Sandals Royal Curaçao. Valid on seven-night minimum stays, the program is available exclusively to guests who are booked in Butler suites, as well as Sandals Select Reward Members (Diamond, Pearl, Ambassadors Club levels), offering one US$250 voucher to dine out at one of the eight partner restaurants, with off-site roundtrip transportation included. The curated restaurant selection varies from chic gastro bars to international fusion restaurants, to more classic establishments serving elegant cuisine paired with ocean views.

So often all-inclusive resort guests dine exclusively on-property, while local restauranteurs are eager for the business. Island Inclusive looks to be a win-win for all.

“At this resort, you can sign out free of charge a convertible MINI, and drive into Willemstad, and you can have dinner, at a multitude of restaurants, on the house, on us. The best restaurants on the island, all included in your all-inclusive package,” says Stewart.

MORE NEW RESORTS ON THE WAY

While Sandals Royal Curacao is the latest grand opening, there will be more to come, says Stewart.

The company broke ground on the multi-million dollar transformation of Sandals Dunn’s River back in May 2021, and the results will be revealed soon. Sandals Dunn’s River is the first of three resorts coming to Jamaica as part of an ambitious development project valued at US$230 million.

Sandals Dunn’s River opened in 1991, but not under Sandals ownership. That’s something that the team decided had to change. “We didn’t own that hotel. My father and the team made a decision back in ’05, ’06 that we were going to own our assets, we wanted to invest in our assets,” says Stewart.

He adds: “During the pandemic we bought five hotels. There’s a saying, ‘never waste a good crisis’. And we surely didn’t intend on wasting the past two years that we went through.”

Sandals Dunn’s River will be a winner, and then some. “We’re going to announce its opening day soon,

because it’s getting to that stage, it’s going to be the next new Sandals Resort,” said Stewart. “Skypool Suites. Rondoval Suites with Rooftop Terraces. It’s going to have the next generation of design.”

Phase II of the US$230 million development in Jamaica will comprise the development of sister-property Sandals Royal Dunn’s River, which will sit adjacent to Sandals Dunn’s River and offer generous exchange privileges. Sandals Royal Dunn’s River is slated for completion in 2023 with approximately 250 rooms and suites. SRI is also planning a $250+ million renovation of its third new location in Ocho Rios. Beaches Runaway Bay Resort will be the third family-friendly Beaches Resort in Jamaica.

Meanwhile St. Vincent and the Grenadines will soon welcome a Beaches Resorts property. In July 2020 SRI announced its acquisition of Buccament Bay Spa and Resort, closed since 2016. The property will be completely transformed. “Just like Curacao, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a diamond in the Caribbean. This is a completely untapped and untouched destination that you have to see for yourself,” says Stewart.

Also in the pipeline are renovation projects for Sandals Negril, Beaches Negril, Sandals Royal Plantation, Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Halcyon.

SANDALS ROYAL CURACAO

WE’RE ASKING YOU TO PUT YOUR SEATBELTS ON, BECAUSE THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS IS GOING TO BE INSANE

agents, is aiming to build a network that will eventually include U.S., Mexico and Caribbean destinations as well as Canadian cities. In April 2022 Canada Jetlines announced Toronto Pearson as its hub.

AIRLINES

Scandinavian Airlines voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. earlier this week, in the wake of a walkout by 1,000 pilots. SAS CEO Anko van der Werff said the pilots' strike accelerated the move. “I think we have been very clear that this could happen,” he said. “The important thing is that this is about bankruptcy protection, it is not about a bankruptcy, but it is about financial reconstruction,” he added. A rescue plan presented in February 2022 was aimed at securing long-term competitiveness. SAS launched nonstop Stockholm service as well as nonstop flights to Copenhagen from Toronto last month. SAS said that its operations and flight schedule will be unaffected by the bankruptcy protection filing.

DESTINATIONS

Effective Jan. 16, 2023, day-trippers to Venice will have to make reservations and pay a fee to visit the city. In the works for years, the fee aims to help Venice better manage visitor levels. Travellers who choose not to stay overnight in hotels or other lodgings will have to sign up online for the day they plan to come, and pay a fee, ranging from 3 to 10 euros (US$3.15 to $10.50) per person, depending on advance booking and whether it’s peak season or the city is very crowded. Anyone

who doesn’t abide by the new rule risks fines as high as 300 euros ($315) if stopped and unable to show proof they booked and paid with a QR code.

TOUR OPS

TICO has given the green light to Canada Jetlines Vacations Ltd. as a travel retailer and travel wholesaler under the Travel Industry Act, 2022. “Canada Jetlines Vacations is thrilled to officially receive approval from the highly respected TICO organization,” says Canada Jetlines COO, Duncan Bureau. “We look forward to offering our passengers the resources, and consumer protection benefits to create a safe and efficient travel experience as a TICO-registered company." Canada Jetlines is forging ahead with launch plans for this summer. The start-up carrier announced its Level 2 approval from the CTA in May 2022, two months after it debuted its first A320 aircraft. Canada Jetlines, which wants to work with travel

POLICIES

The vaccination requirement for entering South Africa has been dropped. The latest revisions also include the removal of the mask-wearing mandate indoors and limits on gatherings and border checks for COVID-19. Abolishing the mask-wearing mandate and eliminating all restrictions on gatherings and port of entry vaccination requirements “is a step in the right direction and will significantly benefit the entire tourism sector value chain,” says the tourism board. Two years before the pandemic, travel and tourism contributed 1.5 million jobs and R425.8 billion (more than Cdn$34 billion) to South Africa’s economy. “It’s time to step into a brave new world,” says South African Tourism ACEO, Themba Khumalo.

VENICE

SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES CEO ANKO VAN DER WERFF

Federal govt. says current border measures will stay in place until at least Sept. 30

OTTAWA — The federal government has announced it will extend current border measures for travellers entering (or returning to) Canada.

Requirements for travellers arriving to Canada are expected to remain in effect until at least September 30, 2022.

The pause of mandatory random testing will continue at all airports until mid-July, for travellers who qualify as fully vaccinated. The suspension first went into effect June 11, 2022, with an eye to helping ease operations at overrun airports.

Meanwhile the federal government is moving forward with its planned shift of COVID-19 testing for air travellers outside of airports to select test provider stores, pharmacies, or by virtual appointment.

Mandatory random testing continues at land border points of entry, with no changes. Travellers who do not qualify as fully vaccinated, unless exempt, will continue to test on Day 1 and Day 8 of their 14-day quarantine.

The government says moving testing outside of airports will allow Canada to adjust to increased traveller volumes while still being able to monitor and quickly respond to new variants

of concern, or changes to the epidemiological situation.

All travellers must continue to use the ArriveCAN (eg. the free mobile app, or the website) to provide mandatory travel information within 72 hours before their arrival in Canada, and/or before boarding a cruise ship destined for Canada, with few exceptions. Additional efforts are being undertaken to enhance compliance with ArriveCAN, which is already over 95% for travellers arriving by land and air combined.

“As we have said all along, Canada’s border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, guided by science and prudence,” said Health Minister JeanYves Duclos.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra added: “Our government’s commitment will always be to protect passengers, employees, and their communities from the impacts of COVID-19, while keeping our transportation system strong, efficient, and resilient for the long-term.”

TICO AGM looks back at 25 years of Comp Fund payouts and more

MISSISSAUGA — TICO’s recent annual general meeting held extra significance as it marked the organization’s 25th anniversary.

Held virtually last week, the AGM highlighted TICO’s key achievements not only from the previous fiscal year, but also throughout its 25-year history of providing consumer protection to Ontario’s travellers.

Touching on this year’s key theme of resiliency, Richard Smart, TICO’s President and CEO, said: “While the entire travel ecosystem is shifting and re-inventing itself, an expectation for a fair and balanced consumer protection framework remains vital. The Ontario travel marketplace is resilient and will continue to grow. It is important for consumers and business to

experience a fair, informed and balanced market, within a regulatory environment, where businesses thrive and consumers are protected.”

TICO began operations in June 1997. Over the past 25 years, TICO has answered 115,656 consumer enquiries via emails, phone calls and walkins; closed 6,594 written consumer complaints; facilitated $4,962,172 in restitution between registrants and consumers; and overseen payouts totalling $14,880,349 from the Compensation Fund to assist 24,037 consumers.

TICO has also helped repatriate 4,266 consumers stranded in destination; conducted 46,155 bench reviews of registrants’ financial records, along with 11,105 site inspections; and issued 2,675 warnings to unregistered operators.

TICO acknowledged how the COVID-19 pandemic has been an exceptionally challenging time for Ontario’s travel agencies, websites and tour operators.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, TICO registrants have had their registration fees and Compensation Fun contributions waived, thanks to funding provided to TICO by the Ontario government. TICO held consultations last fall about a future funding framework; it heard from the industry that the proposed approach needed to be reconsidered.

TICO says it has committed to further industry consultation to develop a fair funding model that reflects the principles of cost recovery, that delivers value to stakeholders, and that is consistent with the laws of Ontario.

The AGM also provided an opportunity to announce TICO’s Board of Directors for fiscal year 2022/2023. The following individuals were appointed: Doug Ellison – Elected representative (by acclamation); and Monica Johnstone – ACTA.

The AGM also recognized the commitment and impact of two outgoing directors: Rocky Racco and Leanna Villella.

Sunwing set to take over all 11 hotels on Cayo Largo, Cuba

TORONTO — Hosting its first in-person event in over two years, Sunwing Travel Group recently announced, through its hotel management company Blue Diamond Resorts, that it will be taking over the island of Cayo Largo and the 11 properties on this island, with a total of 1,348 rooms.

“Cuba is a very important destination for us and we’ve grown phenomenally over the years,” says Eric Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Sunwing Travel Group. “This, in addition to the growth of Blue Diamond Resorts, has given us a privileged position with the government in allowing us to take over Cayo Largo completely with hotels on the island.”

Blue Diamond Resorts is Sunwing’s hotel management company and the second largest hotel chain in number of rooms in Cuba following Meliá and ahead of Iberostar.

Mohamad Fawzi, Managing Director, Cuba, for Blue Diamond Resorts spoke to current occupancy levels and forecasts for the future, telling Travelweek, “right now we are around 50% in all of our properties, and for winter we are looking at very good

occupancy of 90%.”

In discussing Sunwing Group’s plans, Rodriguez spoke of the destination takeover as new territory. “We haven’t had a destination that’s run by one hotel company ever in Cuba. This is a fi rst. We also have obtained an import license to control what goods are coming in, so now it will allow us to control the quality within the hotels.”

This import license, exclusive to Sunwing Travel Group, allows them to control what’s coming into the destination. In the example Rodriguez gave, things such as peanut butter, Nutella and ketchup will be available at the resorts, which hasn’t always been the case.

“There are a lot of synergies you can take advantage of. Instead of having 10 different butchers, you can have one centralized, and you can have a lot of common products that are centralized as opposed to everybody doing it for themselves. It’s economies of scale, it’s the right to import, and being able to control the quality is a great thing.”

Over the past two years adapting and improving have been among the key themes that Sunwing and the Cuban government have focused on to improve the destination as a whole. One key factor has been working towards the removal of the scratch cards for Internet use, and recognizing the importance of WiFi.

With no remaining COVID protocols on the island and Cayo Largo having

its own international airport (CYO), flights from Canada will be easy for Canadian travellers. This coming November there will be three nonstop flights from Canada: Toronto (three hours and fi ve minutes), Montréal (three hours and minutes) and Québec (four hours and five minutes).

This close proximity to Canada and exceptional value for money are what makes Rodriguez confident that travel to the destination will continue to be a success.

Not only this, but the transfer time from the airport to some of the resorts in Cayo Largo ranges from four to 11 minutes.

NEXUSTOURS

Also in attendance at the Sunwing Loves Cuba event, held at The Arlington Estate in Vaughan, ON, was Ruben Gutierrez Urena, President of NexusTours, Sunwing’s Destination Services Team.

NexusTours will continue to operate Sunwing’s excursions in Cayo Largo. Gutierrez Urena shared some of the incredible and unique experiences that can be had in Cuba such as a jeep safari, learning about the legacy of the sugar, rum, and cigar industry, unwinding on a sun cruise, and exploring Havana. And with the white-sand beaches, crystal waters and so much to do, Cayo Largo truly is a paradise, he said.

The 11 Cayo Largo properties are: Grand Memories Cayo Largo; Sanctuary at Grand Memories Cayo Largo; Memories Cayo Largo; Starfish Cayo Largo; Villa Caprice; Villa Natura; Villa Marina; Villa Linda Mar; Villa Coral; Villa Serena; and Villa Soledad.

Four of these properties - Grand Memories Cayo Largo, Sanctuary at Grand Memories Cayo Largo, Starfish Cayo Largo and Memories Cayo Largo - will be open to guests starting the first week of November 2022, and they will be available for bookings starting July 11, 2022.

SUNWING TRAVEL GROUP TEAM MEMBERS AT THE SUNWING LOVES CUBA EVENT IN VAUGHAN, ON

LUXURY TRAVEL

After two long pandemic years, there's no better time than now to get away from it all

Top 7 reasons to book Secrets Moxché Playa Del Carmen

TORONTO — Luxury knows no bounds at Secrets Moxché Playa Del Carmen, a tropical oasis in the Yucatan peninsula.

Located 40 minutes from Cancun International Airport, the 485-suite resort is home to a wide array of lavish amenities, including seven shimmering pools and three man-made cenotes that allow guests to truly immerse themselves in their surroundings.

For travellers in search of a restful and ultra-luxe getaway, here are the top seven reasons to book a stay at Secrets Moxché Playa Del Carmen:

1. Fine dining. Guests can indulge in gourmet cuisine guaranteed to satisfy even the most refined palate. Culinary masterpieces created by artisanal chefs are available at 11 unique dining selections.

2. Luxury included. All guests receive UnlimitedLuxury around the clock, including complimentary 24-hour room service.

3. Pampered luxury. The 15-cabin Spa by Pevonia offers traditional treatments designed for self-healing and recovery from daily stress. Focus is placed on wellness through nutritional advice and locally-sourced natural ingredients.

4. Elevated luxury. Guests can stay in the Preferred Club to enjoy an upgraded suite and minibar, and access to a private lounge with snacks and a bar. Plus, they’ll gain access to a Preferred Club-only bar and an exclusive restaurant for breakfast.

5. Golf paradise. The resort is located within the gated residential community of Corasol, which is home to the 18-hole Gran Coyote Golf Course designed by PGA-legend and Hall of Fame member Nick Price.

6. It’s green. The resort is following green practices to do its part working towards zero emissions. These include using solar panels, eolic energy and sound water processing.

7. Watersports. Guests can enjoy the turquoise waters of the Caribbean by kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling, just a few of the many activities available on site.

For more information go to Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen | Adults-Only Resort.

Bookings eclipsing 2019 levels, says First in Service Travel

NEW YORK — First in Service Travel is reporting an unparalleled surge in demand for travel, with bookings to date for 2022 now eclipsing those from pre-pandemic times.

According to newly released data, F1S is seeing a 25% increase in travel bookings so far this year over the same period in 2019. In addition, a cross-section of surveyed F1S travel advisors say that their individual books of business are seeing a renaissance this year, particularly as international travel rebounds.

“With all the pent-up demand for travel, especially within the luxury leisure segment, we are not surprised by our year-over-year increases or those far surpassing 2020, when the pandemic first devastated our industry,” said Fernando Gonzalez, F1S Chief Executive Officer. “But as this year began, we never anticipated that our bookings to date would now soar past those prior to the pandemic in 2019. Our 31-year-old agency is now on track to enjoy its best year yet, and we’re thrilled that our advisors are sharing in our success.”

F1S, considered one of North America’s largest independent travel agencies, celebrated its expansion into Canada earlier this year with the grand opening of a Toronto office. In an exclusive interview with Travelweek, Gonzalez laid out plans for further expansion by year’s end, in Montreal and Vancouver.

With the most recent news, Gonzalez also noted that while luxury leisure travel has led the recovery, F1S is also seeing momentum for its corporate and entertainment segments, both of which have mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels. He said that despite some economic headwinds, including inflation, F1S expects all three segments to see continued growth throughout the year.

Individual advisors seeing increased bookings

F1S recently surveyed its advisors to see how they are faring individually. According to Gonzalez, advisors are largely experiencing the same kind of boom as the company.

“The results show that the overwhelming majority are experiencing significant growth in sales, particularly for international travel from both Canada and the United States,” he says.  Canadian advisors were more likely than those in the U.S. to say their international bookings had increased over each of the last three years (2021, 81.8% vs. 77.8%; 2020, 81.8% vs. 77.8%; and 2019, 63.6% vs. 55.6%)

In the same survey, Canadian and U.S. advisors were asked to compare their respective domestic bookings for 2022 with each of the last three years, including pre-COVID 2019. In this case, U.S. advisors were much more likely than those in Canada to say their domestic bookings had increased over the last two years (2021, 77.8% vs. 36.4%; 2020, 66.7% vs. 45.5%). However, advisors were nearly on par in comparing 2022 with 2019 (44.4% vs. 45.5%).

Two Costa ships coming to the U.S. as part of Carnival fleet

MIAMI — Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises, both part of Carnival Corporation, are teaming up to launch a brand new concept in spring 2023 called COSTA by CARNIVAL.

Designed for Carnival’s North American guests, the partnership will see the Costa Venezia join the Carnival fleet next spring to sail from New York. This will be followed by Costa Firenze, arriving in spring 2024 to sail from Long Beach.

Carnival will operate the ships, both of which will marry Carnival’s food and entertainment offerings with Costa’s Italian design features.

“Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze will bring Carnival’s guests the ambiance and beauty of Italy. We’re going to invite our guests to ‘Choose Fun’ with Carnival, Italian style!” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Duffy added that the ships will continue operating their regular Costa itineraries until they are assigned to Carnival for dry dock work and deployment. Deployment and itinerary plans are being finalized, with the Venezia announcement coming soon. Costa will be informing clients who will be impacted by the news.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to operate two additional beautiful Vista class ships in the U.S. and bring a unique experience to those who love the culture, food and vibe of Italy,”

THE RESULTS SHOW THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN SALES

COSTA VENEZIA

added Duffy. “There are lots of ways we plan to create an immersive fun experience for our guests who choose to sail on these ships, which have beautiful Italian-design elements, dining and retail that will deliver Carnival fun, leveraging the spirit of Italy from our sister line Costa Cruises.”

Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Cruises, said: “We are excited to see these iconic ships make their debut in the U.S. under the leadership and operation of our sister brand. Costa providing the beautiful ship with its Italian design and Carnival delivering fun, Italian style!”

Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze are sister ships to Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. They all accommodate up to 5,260 guests.

Catching up with Playa BDM Freddie Marsh after W. Canada workshop series

VANCOUVER — Playa Resorts’ travel agent workshops took place recently across Western Canada, with the biggest event in Vancouver.

Participating agents had the opportunity to learn how to use Playa’s award-winning travel agent site to secure sales.

Also covered: Playa’s Groups & Weddings, including training on the company’s Group Code Program.

Workshops were held in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Vancouver and Victoria.

More Canadian cities will get workshops in the coming months.

Rose Cosentino, Playa Resorts VP Sales for Canada & EURASIA attended the Vancouver and Victoria events, where the energy and enthusiasm were sky-high. “Being able to engage, educate and energize with our travel partners in person felt incredible,” says Cosentino. “We had

some of our tour operator sales team participate in these workshops which further supports the long-standing relationship we have with the travel community.”

And Freddie Marsh, Playa’s BDM Western Canada, adds: “To say the workshops across Western Canada have been a success would be an understatement. We’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm and we had to move to larger venues to accommodate the large number of travel agents attending, which of course is a fantastic problem to have. Many travel agents said the Playa workshops were their first in-person event in over two years. Travel agents are excited to be selling travel again and we are seeing this with the tremendous number of new bookings coming in across all our brands.”

A big focus of the workshops was on Playa’s three pillars of hospitality; Wellness, Entertainment and Culinary, as well as in-depth training on AgentCASH+ (Playa’s travel agent website, www.agentcashplus.com).

“The AgentCASH+ site is where travel agents go to ‘report their bookings’ and they will accumulate points to use for free nights and/or gift cards. In addition, the site also has a learning centre, media library, webinar recordings, travel agent rates, groups and weddings as well as direct booking option to earn a minimum of 12% commission,” says Marsh.

He says Playa is seeing “a massive increase in group business, whether it be destination weddings or just

friends & families wanting to travel together. Playa Resorts offers contracted groups (direct and via tour operator), but we’ve also launched our Playa’s Group Code program, an innovative way to book a group without a contract.

With Playa’s Group Code program, travel agents can make individual FIT bookings and then 15 days prior to travel, email a list of the reservations and Playa will create the group on the back end and any comp rooms are refunded to the travel agency after travel is completed.

For more information on the Group Code program, agents are asked to reach out to their BDM.

Nobu opening resorts in Punta Cana and Orlando

NEW YORK — Nobu Hospitality, together with RCD Hotels, has announced two new hotels in Punta Cana and Orlando.

Nobu Hospitality and RCD Hotels first teamed up in 2016 for Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, and added more joint projects over the years, including Nobu Hotel Los Cabos in 2019 and Nobu Hotel Chicago in 2020. The companies will add Nobu Los Cabos Residences in 2023.

PLAYA’S FREDDIE MARSH AND ROSE COSENTINO (SECOND FROM RIGHT) WITH ACV’S ANA VAZQUEZ (SECOND FROM LEFT) AND MARIGOLD FRONTUNA

Nobu Hotel Punta Cana, scheduled to open in 2025, will offer 200 guest rooms and suites including 12 villas, a signature Nobu restaurant, meeting, and event spaces, and 50 Nobu residences.

Nobu Hotel Orlando, expected to open in 2025, is set in the heart of Orlando. The resort will feature 300 accommodations including eight villas, a Nobu restaurant, and 50 residences, and meeting and event space.

“The addition of these new mixeduse projects solidifies the mutual long-term investment that we have with RCD Hotels.  Our ownership partners are critical in our development and it’s important that we work with like-minded owners who share our philosophy and passion for creating the highest quality product and guest experience for our customers,” said Trevor Horwell, CEO, Nobu Hospitality.

Roberto Chapur, President of RCD Hotels, added: “We are pleased to continue our thriving partnership with Nobu Hospitality with the introduction of these exciting new destinations to our existing Nobu Hotels’ portfolio in Mexico, Chicago, and Miami Beach.  The expansion into the Caribbean, a region where RCD Hotels has seen much success, is a pivotal move for Nobu Hospitality and we are delighted to be collaborating with them on this project.”

How sharks can help reduce CO2 emissions: The Lufthansa Group

TORONTO — NoWhen it comes to climate protection, the Lufthansa Group is going above and beyond and below the world’s oceans.

The use of new, fuel-efficient aircraft is currently the biggest lever in the company’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. In fact, the Group receives on average a new, more fuel-efficient aircraft every two weeks. By the end of this decade, a total of at least 190 fuel-efficient aircraft are set to be delivered to the airlines of the Lufthansa Group.

But there are additional measures the Group is taking that aren’t quite as obvious but have just as much impact. These include the use of sharkskin technology.

WHAT IS IT?

According to the Lufthansa Group, the true master of reducing flow resistance drag has been around for millions of years, in the most impressive animal in the ocean: the shark. Did you know that the secret behind the shark’s sleek maneuvering capabilities lies in its skin?

This is what inspired Lufthansa Technik, in collaboration with BASF,

to adapt the sharkskin technology for aircraft. AeroSHARK is a bionic adhesive film that optimizes the airflow, thus reducing fuel consumption and leading to savings in CO2 emissions. SWISS will be the first passenger airline in the world to use this new technology.

To learn more about AeroSHARK click here.

To learn more about the Lufthansa Group’s sustainable measures, click here or follow the hashtag #MakeChangeFly.

Win an Amazon gift card with The Palm Beaches eLearning program

TORONTO — Just launched on the Travelweek Learning Centre, The Palm Beaches eLearning Program offers agents the opportunity to learn about The Palm Beaches: America’s First Resort Destination.

This now-live course provides the essential information needed to better understand the 39 cities and municipalities of this South Florida hotspot. The program is split up into various modules covering a general overview of the destination, regions, activities and events, accommodations, and what to keep in mind when planning a trip.

From start to finish, agents can learn all of the offerings of this destination such as the family attractions and not-to-be-missed festivals and events, as well as the world-class shopping and sun-soaked beaches. Each module features a 5-question quiz for a quick and simple review of what was covered in the previous module. With images, videos, quick tips and fun facts, this course will show agents how The Palm Beaches makes for a fun, memorable and, above all, safe destination getaway.

Whether travellers are in search of family fun, outdoor adventure, romance or luxury, The Palm Beaches delivers on all fronts. Sit back, relax and meander your way through The Original, The One, The Only, The Palm Beaches!

The program is now live on The Learning Centre, and agents who complete the program will be entered for a chance to win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards.

To begin the course, check out TravelweekLearningCentre.com.

THE NOW-LIVE COURSE PROVIDES THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SOUTH FLORIDA HOTSPOT

AQV’s Great Lakes sailings combine Canadian and U.S. ports of call

TORONTO — With the pre-departure testing requirement now lifted for arrivals into the U.S., American Queen Voyages is anticipating a swift upswing in bookings from the Canadian market.

Canadians have already been booking the company’s river cruises, lakes and ocean sailings and expedition voyages, as travel ramps back up. In fact U.S. and Canadian passengers make up the vast majority of AQV’s rosters — 88% — with international passengers (primarily from the UK, Australia and Germany) accounting for the remaining 12%.

But the removal of the last hurdle for travel into the U.S., after the CDC rescinded its pre-departure test requirement, will really make a difference.

Ideal for Canadians eyeing their first trip at this point in the pandemic are AQV’s itineraries that mix Canadian and U.S. ports, offering clients a way to rediscover travel again without going too far afield.

AQV’s lakes and oceans cruise vessels, Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator, are sailing the Great Lakes this summer.

Travelweek had the chance to step aboard Ocean Voyager recently during the ship’s turnaround day in Toronto.

Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator joined the AQV fleet in early 2019, when AQV - then known as American Queen Steamboat Company - took over Victory Cruise Lines. Back then, the ships were M/V Victory I and the M/V Victory II. The ships’ name changes were part of a rebranding in fall 2021, just after AQSC became AQV. In the meantime AQV invested more

than US$3 million into upgrades for the two vessels.

They’re identical sister ships, with 202 passengers each, purpose-built for the canals and locks of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Onboard, guests will find 101 suites and staterooms across five passenger decks, two dining venues and two lounges, including the Compass Lounge where lectures and entertainment take place.

For summer 2022, the two ships are sailing 11-day itineraries between Chicago and Toronto, to ports including Mackinac Island, MI, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Manitoulin Island, Detroit, Cleveland, Niagara Falls and Toronto.

The sailings combine the ease, convenience and intimacy of European river cruising with close-to-home ports, especially for clients in Ontario.

PeopleMaduro leads Karisma’s sales and marketing provider

Frank Maduro is the new President of Karisma Hotels & Resorts' sales and marketing provider, Premier Worldwide Marketing.

The company’s portfolio of brands includes Azul Beach Resorts, El Dorado Spa Resorts, Margaritaville Island Reserve Resorts, Margaritaville St. Somewhere by Karisma, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts, Generation Resorts, Karisma Villas, Hidden Beach Au Naturel Resort, and Palafitos Overwater Bungalows.

Most recently Maduro was Vice President of Marketing for AIC Hotel Group, a position he held for 12 years. AIC’s collection of brands throughout the Caribbean and Mexico includes the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels, Nobu Hotels, Eden Roc Miami Beach and UNICO 20˚87˚ Hotel Riviera Maya. “I am beyond honoured and excited to have joined a dynamic team of hospitality visionaries at Premier Worldwide Marketing alongside Karisma Hotels & Resorts,” says Maduro. “I look forward to contributing to the company’s overall growth and success, while making a lasting impact in the hospitality space.”

ONBOARD OCEAN VOYAGER

On the day Travelweek stepped aboard Ocean Voyager, passengers were enjoying a tour of sunny Toronto before embarkation.

In a smart move especially in these pandemic times, packages include a one-night pre-cruise stay (in Toronto, it’s the Marriott) complete with precruise antigen testing.

The pre-cruise testing is still required by Canadian regulations, plus it’s part of AQV’s COVID-19 protocols.

“Passengers tell us it gives them a lot of peace of mind, and for many it’s a deciding factor in sailing with us,” says Isis Ruiz, Chief Commercial Officer for AQV.

AQV'S OCEAN VOYAGER

APlace

Let Life Flow...

In a place where water artfully carves its way through the lush Jamaican landscape…where it provides a soothing soundtrack that inspires tranquility and romance…magic happens. At the all-new Sandals® Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios, the modern luxury is by design and the vibe comes naturally at a resort that’s risen from the echoes of the past. Whether it’s taking in the ocean view from a private pool in the sky, sipping cocktails delivered by butlers in the luxury of a villa rooftop deck, or dancing beneath the stars with toes in the sand, every moment becomes a part of the experience. So, while they may have to leave Sandals Dunn’s River, it will never, ever leave them.

Cruise packages onboard Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator also include hotel-ship ground transfers, unlimited guided tours, unlimited beverages, open bars and lounges, dining, unlimited WiFi and live daily onboard entertainment and enrichment.

Ruiz says AQV’s passengers tend to be 60+, primarily couples with a few solo travellers. The company welcomes younger travellers too and Ruiz says multigenerational groups are a growing market for AQV, citing one couple recently celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a group trip for eight, with kids and grandkids in tow.

RIVERS, LAKES, OCEANS & EXPEDITIONS

As part of the 2021 rebrand, AQV categorized its cruise product into three divisions: American Queen Voyages River, American Queen Voyages Lakes & Ocean and American Queen Voyages Expedition.

Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator are the flagships of American Queen Voyages Lakes & Ocean.

American Queen Voyages River, meanwhile, has the ships that started it all: AQV’s famous river cruise vessels with their bright red paddlewheels. First came the namesake U.S.flagged American Queen, the largest riverboat in the world. In 2014, American Empress joined the fleet and then, in 2017, American Duchess. And in March 2021 American Countess set sail.

The third division, American Queen Voyages Expedition, marks the brand’s entry into expedition cruising.

Comprised of new- build 186-passenger vessels, the expeditions line is operating all-inclusive cruises to Alaska’s Inside Passage on the brand new Ocean Victory this season. Sister ship Ocean Discoverer is scheduled for delivery in 2023.

Celebrity Cruises’ full fleet now back at sea

MIAMI — Celebrity Cruises is the latest cruise line to celebrate the return of its full fleet following the industry’s voluntary pause as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrity Infinity set sail for the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on June 25, marking not only the ship’s first sailing in 881 days

but also the full return of Celebrity’s 15-ship fleet. It also marked the full return of all 63 ships in parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s fleet, a milestone that was commemorated with a fleet-wide horn blowing on June 25.

Celebrity’s return to service began one year ago when the Celebrity Edge made history on June 26, 2021 as the first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in 15 months. The line then systematically returned more ships to the water to destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska and the Galapagos.

On Celebrity Infinity completing the company’s comeback, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, said: “This sailing not only caps an incredible journey but sets a course for a whole new world of infinite possibilities for our brand and for cruise travel. The future is very bright, thanks to the time, effort and love that the team has poured into bringing our entire fleet back.

“Seeing the beautiful Celebrity Infinity sail out of Port Everglades will be an emotional moment for everyone at Celebrity Cruises, especially our crew, who have waited so long to welcome guests aboard once again,” she added.

CELEBRITY EDGE MADE HISTORY ON JUNE 26, 2021, WHEN IT BECAME THE FIRST CRUISE SHIP TO SAIL FROM A U.S. PORT IN 15 MONTHS

AQV’S ISIS RUIZ (LEFT) AND MICHAEL HICKS (RIGHT) WITH CAPTAIN WOJTEK ZIOCKOWSKI

Polar hiking, trekking with Quark Expeditions right on trend

SEATTLE — Polar adventure specialist Quark Expeditions has introduced new hiking and trekking options for guests traveling on Ultramarine.

The company says modern-day explorers will have the opportunity to walk alongside polar experts for an innovative and immersive experience. Ultramarine has two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters and 20 quick-deploy Zodiacs, so guests of all fitness levels, ages and areas of interest can take advantage of hiking and trekking adventures to remote areas of the Polar regions.

“Setting foot where few humans have ever walked is part of the magic

of exploring the Arctic and Antarctic,” said Alex McNeil, Director of Expedition Experience and Innovation for Quark Expeditions.

Quark has been offering hiking opportunities in the Polar Regions since 1991.

“Guests frequently speak of the excitement that hits them when they step onto the snow-and ice-covered sites of Antarctica or the remote tundra of the Arctic,” says McNeil. “They breathe in the polar air, feel the terrain beneath their feet, and observe the polar landscapes up close…and in that moment they know they’ve truly arrived in one of the great wilderness frontiers of the planet. Thanks to our game-changing new ship Ultramarine, we’ve expanded our adventure options to include multiple styles of hiking no one else offers.”

He notes that the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s 2022 Industry Snapshot ranks ‘hiking/trekking/

walking’ as No. 2 on the list of 10 Hot Trending Adventure Activities, so Quark is right on trend.

Quark Expeditions’ hiking and trekking options include…

HIKING

Guided hikes are offered at multiple levels from beginner to advanced, ranging from short jaunts to the top of lookouts or visits to see wildlife to longer walks of several kilometers over ice, rock and snow. Hiking excursions may last from two to three hours with plenty of time for photographs of wildlife, learning moments from experienced guides, “or just time to stand back and admire the incredible polar surroundings.”

HELI-HIKING

Ultramarine’s twin-engine helicopters transfer guests to the start of the most scenic hiking routes of Southern

Greenland and then pick them up at the endpoint of the route. Each guided heli-hiking departure is tailored to guests’ personal needs and level of ability and interest.

ALPINE HELI-TREKKING

Quark Expeditions’ expert guides take guests on active adventures high up in the Antarctic Peninsula. Small groups of adventurers board one of Ultramarine’s two twin-engine helicopters for a trekking excursion in an area only safely accessed by air. Stunning views of remote ridgelines, glaciated terrain, and snow-topped peaks await.

ICE SHEET EXPERIENCE

Quark Expeditions’ Ice Sheet Experience allows guests to disembark from their helicopter, and walk on the second-largest ice mass on the planet, the Greenland Ice Sheet.

FLYGTA resumes Muskoka flights from Billy Bishop City Airport

TORONTO — FLYGTA has resumed flights from Billy Bishop City Airport (YTZ) to Muskoka Airport (YQA) for the summer season.

The 30-minute flights operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Departures to and from Muskoka are scheduled at 1 p.m. from Toronto and 2 p.m. from Gravenhurst at prices ranging from $129 to $159.

“FLYGTA is excited to bring back another season of cottage travel, except this time, available for booking by travel agencies globally through the newly connected GDS programs,” says Chris Nowrouzi, CEO, FLYGTA Airlines.

Manulife is hiring!

Last month FLYGTA announced its global rollout of GDS partners including Travelport and Amadeus. The move makes FLYGTA’s private jet flights available for booking to travel advisors worldwide via the GDS.

The activation with Travelport (i.e. Apollo and Galileo) started on June 2, and Amadeus, June 15.

FLYGTA says the GDS agreements means travel agents can say goodbye to the complexities of booking through

Job Requirements (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Competencies):

• 3 - 5 years of proven knowledge and experience working with Travel Insurance products

• Must have a vehicle or means to travel as required

• Solid training and development skills, to seek out problems in a complex environment

• Ability to handle multiple competing tasks with prioritization that may change due to business needs

• Proven facilitation, presentation, analysis, design, and evaluation skills

• Ability to travel daily beyond the parameters of the city in which you live

• Proven aptitude and success with large group training initiatives, 2+ years experience required

• Knowledge of adult learning principles

External

email and custom quote requests.

The first flights are expected to commence with 20+ destinations from Toronto to Canadian, American, and Caribbean destinations with Montreal (YUL), and other departure points to be scheduled for July.

FLYGTA off ers a selection of private charter flights available for instant booking from Toronto’s Pearson (YYZ) and Billy Bishop Airports (YTZ) to a select number of Canadian, U.S. and Caribbean destinations and scheduled air taxi flights from Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) to Niagara (YCM) Kingston (YGK) and Muskoka (YQA).

Instant book private charter destinations from Pearson include Miami,

Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Naples, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Bahamas, and Turks & Caicos.

Instant book private charter destinations from Billy Bishop (YTZ), include Ottawa, Quebec City, New York (Teterboro, NJ), the Hamptons (Suffolk County), Chicago, and Nashville.

FLYGTA says custom quote requests may be made through flygta. com for tailor-made private jet charter itineraries not currently available through the agency network.

FLYGTA works with VoX International and pays commission. For more information go to FLYGTA.com.

Silversea announces additional fly-cruise voyages in Antarctica

MONACO — Silversea is ramping up its polar offering with three new Antarctica Bridge voyages for 2023-2024. The fly-cruise program, which Silversea says provides the fastest, most direct route to Antarctica, enables

travellers to fly over the Drake Passage in business-class comfort. Silversea’s diverse Antarctica program includes three ice-class ships that sail a broad array of voyage lengths.

“In response to exceptional demand, we have added three new flycruise voyages aboard Silver Cloud for 2024, enhancing our industry-leading Antarctica offering and strengthening our destination leadership,” said Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President and CEO. “We offer guests the luxury of choice, with the most diverse offering in ultra-luxury Antarctica cruising. Our pioneering Antarctica Bridge option is tremendously popular with time-conscious travellers who prefer to experience the White Continent without crossing the Drake Passage.”

Adding to Silversea’s existing Antarctica Bridge offering for 2022 and 2023, guests may choose from two new five-day expedition voyages aboard Silver Cloud that depart Feb. 2 and Feb. 7, 2024, as well as a sixday sailing departing Feb. 12, 2024.

PeopleFreeman appointed CEO of U.S. Travel Association

After nearly a decade, Geoff Freeman will be rejoining the U.S. Travel Association as President and CEO, effective Sept. 1.

Freeman takes over the role from Roger Dow, who is stepping down after 17 years at the helm of the organization. Dow recently hosted his final IPW conference earlier this month.

In his previous leadership role at U.S. Travel, Freeman’s work led to the industry’s signature bipartisan legislative victory establishing the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 and creating Brand USA. He also led efforts behind the creation of TSA PreCheck and established the Meetings Mean Business Coalition.

On succeeding Dow, Freeman said: “I’m proud and honoured to succeed Roger Dow who has been a profound leader ad important mentor to me. I give Roger my sincere thanks for all he has done, for me and for the travel industry.”

After landing at Chile’s Eduardo Frei Montalva air base on King George Island, guests will spend the same amount of time exploring Antarctica as on the cruise line’s conventional itineraries. They will journey to such destinations as Antarctic Sound, the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands before returning to King George Island. The Expedition Team will guide Zodiac tours, kayaking adventures and explorations ashore, as well as provide lectures on the region’s geology, wildlife and history.

For sailings that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea recently enhanced journeys to Antarctica with the launch of roundtrip voyages from Puerto Williams, Chile. From the 2022-2023 season, those sailing aboard the line’s three ice-class expedition ships – Silver Cloud, Silver Wind and Silver Explorer – will enjoy more convenient flight times, personalized service during a private charter fl ight and quicker transfers to the ship, on exclusive itineraries departing from the new gateway of Puerto Williams.

CURRENT COURSES & WEBINARS

www.travelweeklearningcentre.com

The Palm Beaches eLearning Program

Prize: Complete the course to win one of 3x $100 Amazon gift cards

Welcome to The Palm Beaches, America’s First Resort Destination®! This course will provide the essential information needed to inspire your clients and better understand the 39 cities and municipalities of this South Florida hotspot that are easy to reach and hard to resist.

Colombia Specialist Program

Agents who complete the course by July 18, 2022 will be entered for a chance to WIN two air tickets to Colombia

Newly launched on Travelweek’s Learning Centre is the Colombia Specialist Program, available in English and French. The course offers an opportunity for travel agents to learn about Colombia, the “most welcoming destination on earth.” A diverse South American country, Colombia features many regions to suit a wide range of travellers, including mountain ranges, vast plains, lush rainforests, and world-famous beaches.

Earn More with Delta and Agencia Global

Date: July 7th @ 2 PM EST Prize includes: $500 in Delta Gift Cards

Christine from Delta will provide updates from Delta, Air France and KLM, and Jimmy from Agencia Global will show you how to earn more on your booking on one of the market’s most innovative booking platforms.

I Know a Place: Explore Seattle Like a Local

Date: Tuesday, July 12th @ 2:oo PM EST Prize: Your chance to WIN a $100 Esso Gift Card

When you think of Seattle, you think of flying fish, coffee and grunge music. While that spirit is alive and well, there’s more to see and do in the Emerald City. Join Visit Seattle’s Liz Johnson as she shares her favorite top attractions with you along with lesser-known gems.